title: Wrist-ankle acupuncture as perineal pain relief after mediolateral episiotomy: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in relieving perineal pain after mediolateral episiotomy during childbirth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women with mediolateral episiotomy during delivery were enrolled in this study and were assigned to be treated or not with acupuncture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Perineal pain relieving effect of acupuncture was evaluated considering oral analgesics request during post-partum period and was the main outcome of this trial.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 42 women were enrolled in this trial. Twenty-one (21) women were treated with "wrist-ankle" acupuncture, inserting one needle in their right ankle. A second group of 21 women was not treated with acupuncture. Women in the acupuncture group were significantly less likely to experience pain; only 8 of them (38.1%) asked for analgesics. All women in the second group assumed oral analgesics because of perineal pain (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Wrist-ankle acupuncture during the postpartum period is effective for perineal pain relief after mediolateral episiotomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy. marrachiara@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marra
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pozzi
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ceppi
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sicuri
authors.forename: Fanny
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Veneziano
authors.forename: Anna Laura
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Regalia
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D000842:Ankle; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004841:Episiotomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D010502:Perineum / Q000601:surgery*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D014953:Wrist